Squash: Saurav Ghosal & Co face herculean task against top guns

Indian squash has been on a high in the recent past with Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal consistently improving on the international circuit. Will their progress be enough to win India a medal?

Realistically the competition is very tough with England being the front runners in the men’s side and Malaysia and England being the favourite on the women’s side. Top players from all nations will be representing their country with Egypt being the only squash power missing from the fray.

The English men’s contingent has four top 10 players in their squad. World No.2 Nick Matthew, will be the front-runner in the men’s singles as he is coming in on the back of a good season.

Indian coach Cyrus Poncha when asked on India’s chance said, “On paper Ghosal would not be ranked to win a medal, but he has the ability to raise his game and win us a medal.”

Ghosal himself was cautious saying, “It will be tough to win an individual medal. A lot of it would depend on the draw. If I am seeded in the top 16, then I am more likely to face players from Malaysia or Pakistan. I would not want to face the English or the Australians in the initial rounds.”

Poncha also felt that the women would have a tough time, “They will have to play girls who are in the top 10 in an effort to win a medal.”

The world’s six best women players will be competing with World No.1 Malaysian Nicol David headlining the event. India’s best chance at a medal will probably be in the women’s doubles. Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa had teamed up earlier this year and won an invitational tournament in Manchester, England.

Poncha reiterated as much and felt that India’s best chance was in the women’s doubles and mixed doubles events.

In an event where India has never secured a medal since the sport was introduced in 1998, the players will be looking to set the record straight now and clinch their first ever medal on home soil.